Why do people commit deviant acts?

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2 There are three sociological perspectives that explain deviance?FunctionalistConflictInteractionist

3 FunctionalistStrain theory – views deviance as a natural outgrowth of values, norms, and structure of society.Societies goal is to achieve economic successHowever not every one has access to the legitimate means to achieve these goals.Anomie- the situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable.

5 Conflict PerspectiveCompetition and social inequality lead to deviance.See social life as a struggle between those who posses power ( ruling class ) and those who do not ( lower class )

6 People with PowerCommit deviant acts in a effort to maintain their position.Label any behavior that threatens their power base as deviantExplain deviance as a problem of the lower classCrime enforcement efforts are most directed toward crimes committed by the lower classes

7 People without power Commit deviant acts to obtain economic rewards.Low self esteem and feelings of powerlessPeople without power don’t necessarily commit more crimes than other people.Rather, they commit crimes that are most likely to be detected and punished

8 Interactionist perspectiveControl theory: explains deviance as a natural occurrence.Cultural transmission theory: explains deviance as a learned behaviorDifferential association: frequency and closeness of a associations a person has with deviant and non deviant individuals

9 Other aspects of DevianceLabeling theory: how individuals come to be identified as deviantPrimary deviance: deviance that goes undetectedSecondary deviance: results in a individual being labeled a deviantDegradation: public setting, trial , guilty, punished and labeled deviant